BY BANELE MAGONGO
MBABANE – Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo expressed his appreciation for the strong bilateral relationship between Eswatini and India, which has allowed for Eswatini’s artists to participate in the Surajkund International Mela Crafts Fair in India.
Khumalo said this today when he met Indian High Commissioner Her Excellency N. Ram Prasad at Sibekelo Building in Mbabane.
According to information published on the Ministry’s Facebook page, the Minister stated that he was honoured to share the Handicraft Department’s journey at the 37th Surajkund International Mela Crafts Fair. He highlighted the Department’s month-long participation in the fair, which was made possible by the strong bilateral relations between Eswatini and India. He expressed his pride in the Department’s achievements and emphasised the importance of cultural exchange between the two nations.
The Minister further stated that the month-long visit had provided the Eswatini team with the opportunity to interact and collaborate with artisans from around the world. These exchanges of ideas, techniques, and experiences broadened their horizons and strengthened their appreciation for traditional crafts.
They also forged new friendships, transcending borders and uniting through their shared passion for cultural heritage. The Minister further emphasised that the event had reinforced the bilateral relations between Eswatini and India, becoming a platform for cultural diplomacy.
Khumalo expressed gratitude on behalf of the Handicraft Department and the Kingdom of Eswatini for the invitation to attend the fair. He added that the head of the delegation had identified the fair as a model that could be implemented in Eswatini to attract large numbers of people. He stated that the fair had been an invaluable experience and that the Kingdom would seek to apply the learnings from this event to its own fairs and exhibitions in the future.
In response, Commissioner Ram Prasad expressed his profound satisfaction with the bilateral relationship between the two nations. In light of this, he conveyed India’s strong desire to further enhance and broaden the existing trade agreement, which was originally established in 2002 between the two countries.
